Sonia's resignation may lead to LS polls: Venkaiah

Chennai, Mar 27 (UNI) BJP vice president M Venkaiah Naidu today said the present turn of events at the Centre, in wake of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi's resignation as MP and chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on the ''office of profit'' issue, might lead to elections to the Lok Sabha.

''All is not well with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The UPA is in turmoil and the political atmosphere is heating up. Anything may happen before or after the Assembly elections in five states,'' Mr Naidu told newspersons here.

Mr Naidu said lack of central command and leadership to lead a coalition and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's lack of control over situation were the two main reasons for the present political turmoil.

Rejecting a suggestion that Ms Gandhi had gained sympathy by resigning from both the posts, he said the Congress president had fallen into the trap they themselves laid.

''The UPA, because of its incapability and wrong doing, sacrificed Ms Gandhi. There is no real sacrifice as she had no other alternative, but to step down,'' he added.

On the ''office of profit'' issue, Mr Naidu said the BJP was in favour of a legislation and not in favour of an ordinance. The issue should be discussed in Parliament and the House has to decide what is an office of profit.

After a broad consensus, certain standards have to be set, he added.

Mr Naidu said disqualifying Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan the Election Commission had made it clear that even posts of advisors have fallen within the ''ambit of office of profit.'' The existing law clearly states that MPs should not hold office of profit and the Congress could have brought a legislation to save the MPs, but messed up the whole thing.

''They wanted to corner Ms Bachchan, but ended up getting themselves cornered,'' he said.

Mr Naidu said there was confusion and contradcition on each and every issue, whether it was US President George W Bush's visit, nuclear issue, disinvestment policy or fixing the interest rate on provident fund, he added.

Besides, the UPA government is also facing many scams and all these things have made UPA government vulnerable. ''Nobody is happy and anything may happen at any time,'' Mr Naidu said.

Ms Gandhi had enacted a ''drama'' by resigning as an MP and as chairperson of the NAC. Her action did not carry any conviction among the people, he added.

UNI